Fire extinguisher



June 6, 1950 Filed Nov. 8, 1948 Mm? IVJ'IZZer Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Max Winter, Reading, Pa.

Application November 8, .1948, Serial No. 58,976

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to fire extinguishers, and more particularly to fire extinguishers of the type having two compartments to contain separately chemical agents adapted on manual manipulation of the extinguisher housing to be mixed to produce and eject a fire extinguishing composition.

Heretofore, fire extinguishers have been constructed in various forms providing two compartments adapted to contain separately chemical agents which, when mixed, will produce through the chemical reaction between the agents a fire extinguishing composition such as carbon dioxide gas, foam, or liquid extinguishing compositions, all well known to the art. Means are generally provided to mix the materials or agents contained within the two compartments either internally within one of the compartments by puncturing or opening outlets to one of the compartments through manual manipulation of the extinguisher, as by inversion, or in a bore or conduit coupled between the two compartments and a common exhaust nozzle, the conduit in the latter case being normally in closed condition and adapted to be forced open to allow mixture of. the chemical agents and ejection of the fire extinguishing composition by manual operation of a plunger, release of compressed gas, and the like. Many of these are subject to the disadvantage of being inconvenient to store and unwieldy for operation by virtue of their weight and size, and others are of such a nature that once the extinguisher is activated to initiate discharge of the fire extinguishing composition therefrom, the discharge cannot be stopped until the contents of the extinguisher are exhausted. A fire extinguisher which could be activated to discharge only a sufiicient amount of the composition to extinguish the fire and then remain in a usable state until required again without completely recharging it would be particularly desirable in the case of portable extinguishers for small fires and like uses.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fire extinguisher adapted to be activated by compression of the outer surface thereof to eject a fire extinguishing composition therefrom during the period pressure is applied along the external walls thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel fire extinguisher adapted to be actuated by manual pressure on the outer walls thereof to mix chemical agents contained therein and to eject a fire extinguishing composition therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel fire' extinguishing device adapted to house separately a plurality of chemical agents therein operative on application of manual pressure to the exterior walls thereof to mix the chemical agents and eject a fire extinguishing composition therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel fire extinguishing device adapted to contain separately chemical agents for forming a fire extinguishing composition and operative on compression of the exterior walls thereof to distribute pressure throughout the device and simultaneously mix the chemical agents therein and eject a fire extinguishing composition externally thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel fire extinguisher adapted to mix a plurality of chemical agents separately contained therein and eject a me extinguishing composition therefrom on compression of the exterior walls thereof, characterized by simplicity of design and construction, economy of manufacture in large quantities, durability, and convenience in handling.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a fire extinguisher embodying the present inven tion; and,

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse section of the instant fire extinguisher, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

The invention in general comprises a flexible outer receptacle and a flexible inner receptacle enclosed completely therein, each of the receptacles being adapted to contain separately first and second chemical agents of a nature to produce a fire extinguishing composition when mixed, and having an outlet opening disposed in substantially juxtaposed relation to each other, stopper means adapted to close the outlet opening of the outerreceptacle and having means thereon to support and close the outlet opening for the inner receptacle. Bifurcated conduit means are provided in the stopper means having branches coupled from externally of the fire extinguisher into each of the receptacles, the conduit branch coupled with the inner receptacle being provided with pressure sensitive flow-check The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a fire extinguishing device embodying the present invention is shown, comprising a double receptacle, designated generally at It, consisting of an elongated, substantially cylindrically shaped outer receptacle 'll, having a side l2 and ends l3 and I4, constructed of flexible material, such as any of the commercially marketed flexible plastics, rubber, or synthetic resin compositions well known in the art. At one end 01' the outer receptacle ii, an outlet opening I6, is provided of circular cross section, having a lip formation l6 defining the outlet ppening 56 extending outwardly from the end l3 oi the elongated cylindrical receptacle ii and extending parallel to the principal longitudinal axis of the outer receptacle. An inner receptacle i1, adapted to be disposed entirely within the outer receptacle II and extending with its principal longitudinal axis disposed substantially coincident with the principal longitudinal axis of the outer receptacle ii, is provided within the outer receptacle H. The inner receptacle i1 is likewise of substantially cylindrical shape having a side i8 and ends it and 20, and is provided with an outlet opening 2| defined by lip formation 22 extending parallel to the principal longitudinal axis of the inner receptacle i1 in-the'side i9 thereof.

A stopper member 26 adapted to close both the outlet openings l and 2i in the outer and inner receptacles ii and I1 respectively, and to support and position the inner receptacle l1 within the outer receptacle ii, is provided. This stopper member 25 is formed 01' two sections 26 and 21, each substantially cylindrical in configuration and of different radii, the inner section 21 thereof being of smaller radius than the outer section 26. A cap portion 28, is likewise defined thereon atop the section 26 of relatively greater radius. The radii of the greater and smaller sections 26 and 21 are such as to adapt the sections 26 and 21 to fit within and close off the outlet openings I 5 and 2! of the outer and inner receptacles l l and i 1, respectively, with the cap portion 28 serving to limit the insertion of the stopper member 26 into the outlet opening l5 of the Outer receptacle ll.

Exit conduit means are provided, disposed substantially longitudinally through the stopper member 26 along the coincident central axes of the cylindrical sections defined therealong. This exit conduit means comprises a principal cylindrical conduit or bore 30 extending with its central axis coincident with the principal longitudinal axis of the stopper member 25 throughout the length of the stopper member, the portion 3| of the principal conduit or bore 30 extending inwardly through the section 21 of the stopper member being termed tor the purpose of convenience in description as th inner conduit branch, and the portion 32 of the conduit 30 extending outwardly therefrom as the exit conduit branch. This conduit means is provided with a branch 33 extending from the principal conduit 30 to a point on the periphery of the greater cylindrical section 26 of the stopper member 26 to provide a conduit for materials within the outer receptacle ii, thus forming a bifurcated conduit.

It will be apparent that, as the smaller cylindrical section 21 of the stopper member 26 is inserted into and closes the outlet opening 2| oi the inner receptacle H, the portion of the bifurcated conduit means designated branch 3|, provides an exit conduit for materials contained within the .inner receptacle l1.

Means are provided in the portion of the conduit means forming the branch 3! for regulating passage of the material from within the inner receptacle I1 through the conduit branch 3| responsive to the pressure in the inner receptacle 11. This means comprises a tubular cartridge member 34 adapted to be mounted on the inner end of the small cylindrical section 21 or the stopper member 26 forming a substantially cylindrically shaped, axially disposed, valve seat and housing, having apertures 36 and 36 provided at each end thereof aligned with the principal axis of the stopper member 26. The diameter 0! the apertures 86 and 36 are smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical valve housing 34 so that a valve seat may be formed adjacent the aperture 36 at one end of the cylindrical housing portion 34, forming a seat for a ball member 31 normally urged in closed relation with the seat adjacent the aperture 36 by resilient means such as a coil spring 33. The coil spring 36 is adjusted to resiliently urge the ball .31 in closed relation with the aperture 36 until a pre-selected pressure level is attained within-the inner receptacle l1, and is eflective to permit flow through the branch 3| oi' the conduit 30 only outwardly of the double receptacle ill.

The outer and inner receptacles ii and i1, respectively, are thus adapted to contain separately chemical agents adapted on mixture to form a fire extinguishing composition, such as bicarbonate of soda and an acid of one of the commercially marketed varieties such as sulphuric acid. When the outer and inner receptacles H and i1 are in filled condition, and the double receptacle member ill disposed with its longitudinal axis directed generally vertically, in the absence or pressure on the outer wall of the outer receptacle ll suflicient to depress the outer walls of the recepta cle, the subject fire extinguishing device will remain in inactive or dormant condition. The ball check valve means 34, being resiliently urged into closed position by the coil spring 36, will be normally eflective to prevent admission of any of the chemical agents in the inner receptacle l1 into the exit conduit 32 communicating therewith. Should the fire extinguishing device be accidentally tilted or oriented into other than its normal inactive position, the ball check valve means 34" will remain directive to prevent how of the chemical agents contained within the inner receptacle l1 into the bifurcated conduit means for mixture with the chemical agent in the outer receptacle ll so that only a small loss of the chemical agent in the outer receptacle II will result.

For operation of the instant fire extinguishing device to eject in fire extinguishing composition therefrom, the double receptacle member Ill need only be positioned with the stopper member 26 disposed in the direction it is desired to elect the fire extinguishing composition, and manual pressure applied along the outer wall of the outer receptacle II to depress the walls inwardly. The manual pressure thus applied will be transmitted through the chemical agent contained in the outer receptacle H and surrounding the inner receptacle l1 to the exterior walls of the inner receptacle l1 sumcient to proportionately depress the walls of the inner receptacle inwardly and create sufllcient pressure within the inner receptacle to overcome the tension of the coil spring 38 and open the ball check valve 33 for admission of the chemical agent within the inner receptacle into the exit conduit 32 in the stopper me'mber 25. The depression of the exterior wall of the outer receptacle H is likewise effective to force the chemical agent in the outer receptacle ll through the bifurcated conduit branch 33 into the exit conduit 12. The chemical agents in the outer and inner receptacles II and I1, respectively, formerly contained separately from each other, are thus simultaneously forced in proportionate quantities into the branches of the bifurcated conduit 30 respectively coupled therewith to mix the chemical agents at the juncture of the branches 32 and 33 of the bifurcated conduit 30 and eject the fire extinguishing composition formed on mixture of the two chemical agents outwardly of the double receptacle through the exit conduit 32.

By virtue of the resilient pressure from the coil spring" 38 normally urging the ball member 31 into seated relation to the valve seat at aperture 35 to retain the ball check valve in closed position, release of manual pressure on the outer wall of the outer receptacle ll, thus reducing the pressure created thereby within the inner receptacle II to a value below the critical pressure necessary to open the ball check valve 33, will permit the valve 33 to close. F'low through the branch 3| of the bifurcated conduit 30 communicating with the inner receptacle ll in either direction will thus be cut ofl", thus preventing further mixture of the chemical agents normally separately contained within the two receptacles i I and I1 and preventing further. ejection of the fire extinguishing composition from the double receptacle I0. Should the supply of the chemical agents in the two receptacles H and I1 not be exhausted, the fire extinguishing device can then be re-used to eject the fire extinguishing composition from the extinguisher without necessitating recharging of the double receptacle.

It will be apparent from the above description that a novel fire extinguishing device has been provided which is of simple and economical design and construction characterized by a high degree of durability and convenience in handling, which is adapted to be activated by compression of the exterior surface thereof to eject directionally a fire extinguishing composition therefrom during the period the pressure is applied alon the external walls thereof, and which is highly suitable for use as a readily portable fire extinguishing device occupying or requiring little storage space when not in use and adaptable for re-use without recharging, should the chemical agents employed therein not be exhausted during previous use of the device.

While I have particularly shown and described only one specific embodiment of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an inner and outer receptacle, each provided with substantially adjacently disposed outlet openings, means disin said outlet openings for closing both said re-' ceptacles and supporting said inner receptacle, and exit conduit means extending through said means for closing said receptacles having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the

'portion of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive flow regulating means therein, said receptacle defining means being formed of flexible material adapted to transmit pressure on compression of the outer wall of said outer receptacle throughout the material contained within said receptacles to simultaneously mix and eject the materials within said receptacles.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining flexible inner and outer receptacles for containing chemical agents adapted on mixture to form a fire extinguishing composition, each of said receptacles being provided with substantially adjacently disposed outlet openings, means disposed in both of said outlet openings for closing both of said receptacles and supporting said inner receptacle, and exit conduit means extending through said means for closing said receptacles having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the

portion of said conduit means coupled with saidinner receptacle having flow check means therein, whereby pressure on compression of the exterior wall of saidouter receptacle will be transmitted to the walls of said inner receptacle to simultaneously mix and eject the fire extinguishing composition therefrom.

4. A dispensing device comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an inner and outer receptacle for containin separately different materials, each provided with an outlet opening positioned adjacent each other, means for closing said receptacles mounted in said outer receptacle outlet opening and extending into the outlet opening of said inner receptacle to support the inner receptacle, and exit conduit means extending through said means for closing said receptacles having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the portion of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive means therein operative to permit flow through said portion only when a pro-selected pressure is exceeded within said receptacle, said receptacle defining means being formed with flexible walls adapted to transmit pressure on compression of the outer wall of said outer receptacle throughout the material contained within said receptacle to simultaneously 'mix and eject the materials within said receptacle.

5. A liquid dispensing device comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an outer and inner receptacle for containingseparately chemical agents, each provided with an outlet opening positioned adjacent each other, means for closing said receptacles mounted in said outer of a flexible material to eifect transmission of pressure applied to the outer wall of said'outer receptacle throughout the chemical agents in each of said receptacles to simultaneously mix and eject said chemical agents therefrom.

6. A fire extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an inner and outer receptacle for containing separately chemical agents adapted on mixture to produce a fire extinguishing composition, each provided with an outlet opening positioned adjacent each other, means for closing said receptacles mounted in said outer receptacle outlet opening and extending into the outlet opening of the inner receptacle to support said inner receptacle, and exit conduit means extending through said means for closing said receptacles having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the portion of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure-responsive means therein operative to permit flow therethrough on application of pressure in excess of a pre-selected value thereupon irom within said inner receptacle, said receptacle defining means being formed of a flexible material adapted to transmit pressure on compression of the outer walls of said outer receptacle throughout the chemical agents in each of said receptacles to simultaneously mix and eject chemical agents therefrom.

7. .A fire extinguisher comprising, a flexible outer receptacle, a flexible inner receptacle completely contained therein, each of said receptacles having a restricted outlet opening disposed at one end thereof in substantially juxtaposed relation to each other, and means for closing both 'of said receptacle openings having conduit means therein coupled from externally of said extinguisher to each of said receptacles, the portion of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive means therein operative to permit flowthrough said portion only when a pre-selected pressure level is exceeded within said receptacle.

8. A fire extinguisher comprising, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacle completely contained therein, each of said receptacles being adapted to retain separately dilferent materials and having a restricted outlet opening at one end thereof disposed substantially in juxtaposed muitaneously eject and mix the materials within said receptacle. I

9. A fire extinguisher comprising, a flexible outer receptacle, 9. flexible inner receptacle completely contained therein, each of said receptacles being adapted to separately retain diilerent materials and having a restricted outlet opening at one end thereof dispased substantially in juxtaposed relation to each other, means for closing both of said receptacle openings and supporting said inner receptacle having exit conduit means extending therethrough coupled to each of said receptacles. the portion of said conduit relation to each other, means for closing both of said receptacle openings having exit conduit means extending therethrough coupled to each of said receptacles, the portion of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive means therein operative to permit flow therethrough on application of pressure in excess of a pre-selected pressure thereupon from within said inner receptacle, both said receptacles being formed with flexible walls adapted to transmit pressure on compression of the outer walls of said outer receptacle throughout the material contained within said receptacle and to the walls or said inner receptacle to simeans coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive means therein operative to permit flow therethrough on application of pressure in excess of a pre-selected value thereupon from within said inner receptacle, whereby pressure on compression of the exterior walls of said outer receptacle will be transmitted throughout the material contained with said outer receptacle to depress the walls of said inner receptacle and simultaneously mix and eject materials contained within both of said receptacles.

10. A fire extinguisher comprising, a flexible outer receptacle for containing a first chemical agent, a flexible inner receptacle for containing a second chemical agent adapted on mixture with said first chemical agent to produce a fire ex-- tinguishing composition, said inner receptacle being completely contained within said outer receptacle and each of said receptacles having a restricted outlet opening therein disposed in substantially juxtaposed relation to each other, and means for closing both of said receptacle openings comprising a member adapted to be mounted within the opening of said outer receptacle and extending into said inner receptacle opening to support said inner receptacle, said member having a bifurcated conduit therein coupled from externally of said fire extinguisher to each of said receptacles, the portion of said conduit coupled with said inner receptacle having valvecheck means disposed therein operative to permit flow of the chemical agent from said inner receptacle through said conduit portion only on application of pressure is excess of a pre-selected pressure thereupon from within said inner re ceptacle.

11. A flre extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an inner and outer receptacle for containing separately chemical agents adapted on mixture to produce a fire extinguishing composition, each of said receptacles being provided with substantially adjacently disposed outlet openings, a stopper member mounted in said outer receptacle opening and extending into the outlet opening of said inner receptacle to close said receptacles and support said inner receptacle, bifurcated exit conduit means extending through said stopper member having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the branch of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive means therein operative to permit flow through said portion only when a pre-selected pressure is exceeded within said receptacle, said receptacle defining means being formed of a flexible material to efiect transmission of pressure applied to the exterior wall of said outer receptacle throughout the chemical agents in each of said receptacles to simultaneously mix and eject said chemical agents therefrom.

12. A flre extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining an inner and and support said inner receptacle, bifurcated exit conduit means extending through said stopper member having branchescoupled to each of said receptacles. the branch of said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having a ball check-valve seated therein operative to permit fiow through said portion only when a pre-selected pressure is exceeded within said re-- oeptacle, said receptacle defining means being formed of a flexible material operative to effect transmission of pressure on compression oi the exterior wall of said outer receptacle throughout the chemical agents contained within each of said receptacles to simultaneously mix and elect a fire extinguishing composition there- .i'rom.

18. A fire extinguisher comprising, double receptacle forming means defining a flexible outer receptacle and a flexible inner receptacle entirely 10 ceptacie at each point thereon spaced from the walls or said outer receptacle, said stopper member having conduit means therein coupled externally from said extinguisher to each oilsaid receptacles, whereby pressure on compression of the exterior wall of the said outer receptacle will be transmitted in a uniformly distributed manner to the entire wall of said inner'receptacle to simultaneously mix and eject materials contained in each of said receptacles.

14. A dispensing device for simultaneously mixing and ejecting two or more chemical agents comprising-double receptacle forming means defining an inner and outer receptacle, each prodisposed within said outer receptacle, each of said.

receptacles having a. restricted outlet opening disposed at one end thereof in substantially juxtaposed relation to each other, and a stopper member mounted in the outer receptacle openin: and extending into the outlet opening of said inner receptacle, said stopper member forming the sole supporting means {or said inner receptacle maintaining the walls of said inner revided with substantially adjacently disposed outlet openings, means disposed in said outlet openings for closing both of said receptacles and supporting said inner receptacle, and exit conduit means extending through said means for closing said receptacles having branches coupled to each of said receptacles, the portion oi said conduit means coupled with said inner receptacle having pressure responsive fiow regulating means therein.

MAX WINTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Colvin Aug. 11, 1936 

